High Blood Pressure and Heartrate

[mitzi2987]

Ok after the birth of my son 2 months ago, I devloped high blood pressure my readings will range 150/95. They put me on blood pressure medicine. Symptoms due to the high blood pressure is fatigue feeling I will faint headache nausea. I cannot even hold my new baby without feeling like I am going to pass out. My heartrate can jump to 140 and when I sit immediatly it goes into the 70's. I am scared this has something to do with my heart have been to 2 cardiologist they just say I have a fast heartrate also had the renal scan for kidneys, Numerous blood work Ct of lungs stomach. Also have DVT in my femoral artery had it when I was pregnant now on Warfrain 8mg was found in July. I just recently did a 24 hr holter monitor and my heartrate dropped to 44 during the night they told me not to worry but I know that is not good. Also found out I have extremly high chlosteral.(sp). Put on Lipitor 10mg. Also a week after having baby I hemmoraged was givin a blood transfusion and now my levels are 9.8 still anemic a little bit on Folic acid 325 mg twice a day. Tyhroid has been checked 3 times and it has been normal. My upper back to the front hurts also my stomach area especially the left side, bowels have been loose. I am at my whits end I feel horrible and am worried about heart. I have had all the test. What would be causing this? Any input would be appreciated.

[Guate004]

Can you please tell me if ii is necessary to remain on a beta blocker if TSH is 0 but free t4 is normal? The TSH has been 0 for 1.5 years despite rx with Tapazole for a year.   I have no symptoms but have occasional episodes of atrial tachycardia ( last holter showed 22 short runs with longest run  at 22 beats and occasional sinus tachycardia.  We are not certain if the tachy is r/t thyroid or not as had these rhythms when had a nl TSH a couple years ago.  An ablation was done  a few years ago for 50,000 PVC's and v tachycardia. No diabetes, bp 126/82 and occasionally a little higher. I really dislike taking beta blockers (very tired) and wondering if they could be stopped. Echo is normal. Thank you so much.

[Rajasekhar Varma, MD]

Dear mitzi 2987,

Thank you for your query.

I have gone through all the details that you have given.

At the outset, let me reassure you that you don't need to be so anxious. Many of the symptoms that you have described can be attributed to the facts that you have just had a baby, you have lost a lot of blood, and your hemoglobin is still not normal. Some of the symptoms may also be due to fluctuations in BP and the BP medicines may also be partly responsible. In my opinion, your symptoms should resolve once the anemia is completely corrected and your BP is adequately controlled with appropriate medicines.

You should also ensure that you always remain well hydrated. Reduced fluid volume can cause marked changes in your heart rate when you stand up from a lying down position and also giddiness due to drop in BP at that time.

A heart rate of 44 during sleep is perfectly acceptable as long as the rhythm is a normal sinus rhythm. There is no need to be anxious on that count. The increase in heart rate with standing and a reduction with sitting can be explained by anemia, dehydration and possibly the effect of certain types of BP medicines. This can be completely corrected.
Since you are on Warfarin (which is an oral anti-coagulant), you should ensure that the dosage is adjusted once in 3 to 4 weeks to maintain an INR value between 2 and 3. Too less would mean chances of recurrence of DVT while too high would mean risk of bleeding and worsening of Anemia.

I would be in a position to provide more precise opinion if you could share the following details:

1) The names and the doses of the BP medicines that you are taking?
2) What are your ECG and echo findings?
3) Has the DVT completely resolved?
4) Have you checked the INR (International Normalized ratio) value and Prothrombin time? Is the INR value between 2 and 3?
Hope that this information helps and hope that you will get better soon. Do get back to if you have further queries.

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Best Regards,
Dr. Raja Sekhar Varma.